MU's Mavunga works toward NBA goal

1:51 p.m. EST, June 22, 2012|Jay Morrison, Dayton Daily News

Since graduating from Miami University on May 5, basketball standout Julian Mavunga has been logging more than 40 hours a week at a job where he doesn't receive a paycheck, and he's loving every minute of it.

"I'm willing to do as much work as it takes," Mavunga said Wednesday night in a phone interview from Las Vegas, where he and numerous other players are working out in preparation for Thursday night's NBA draft.

The all-day workouts at Impact Basketball include skill and technique drills, lifting sessions and five-on-five competitions against other draft hopefuls, as well as current NBA players such as Austin Daye, Rashard Lewis and Al Harrington.

"It's great getting to play against those guys to see where you're at," said Mavunga, a 6-foot-8 forward who set the career games played record at Miami and finished with 1,389 points, good for 13th in program history.

In addition to his work in Vegas, the Indianapolis native participated in a one-day camp with the Indiana Pacers and has been in contact with seven other NBA teams, although Mavunga's name does not appear on the majority of mock drafts.

He also spent a week with Team Ignition, a hand-picked all-star team that competed against the Dominican Republic national team last week. One of Mavunga's Team Ignition teammates was former MU point guard Kenny Hayes.

"It was fun playing with Kenny again," Mavunga said. "He's a guy who came out of college and continued to get better."

A two-year veteran of the NBA Developmental League, Hayes earned the league's Most Improved Player award this past season, as voted on by the 16 head coaches.

"I can almost guarantee you will see Kenny in the NBA next year," Mavunga said.

As for himself, he isn't so sure. But Mavunga said he's willing to accept whatever happens.

"I wouldn't use the word 'dream,' because that's something you just hope will happen," he said. "Playing in the NBA is my goal, and I'm working hard for it.

"But I'm not going to get down if I'm not drafted," he continued. "There are plenty of opportunities as far as signing with a team as an undrafted free agent. And if not this year, maybe next year. I'm a guy who is committed to this game. I don't want to play for the money, I want to do it because I love it. And if you love to do something, you want to do it at the highest level possible."